Polymerization of vinyl monomer with carbon disulfide–alkali metal complex

Abstract

AbstractThe reaction of carbon disulfide with one or two equivalents of alkali metal (potassium‐ or sodium) was carried out, and the deep red reaction mixture obtained only in diethylene glycol dimethyl ether. The polymerization of vinyl monomers with this reaction mixture was studied. The reaction mixtures of mono‐ and dialkali metal with carbon disulfide induced the polymerization of N‐phenylmaleimide, methyl vinyl ketone, and acrylonitrile but did not induce the polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene. In the polymerization of acrylonitrile with this reaction mixture of carbon disulfide with monoalkali metal, the polymerization rate was found to be proportional to the initiator concentration and to the square of the monomer concentration. The activation energy was −1.1 kcal/mole. Similar results were obtained in the case of carbon disulfide with dialkali metal. The polymer yield increased with increasing solvating power of solvents, i.e., diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, dimethyl sulfoxide, hexamethylphosphoramide, dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran. In the copolymerization of AN with MMA, the copolymer obtained consisted almost of AN units.